Friday, May 14, 2010

An Interview with....Laura Zukaite

Once a week I post interviews with interesting designers about their insights on their experience of working in the Knitting industry. I’ve noticed that every designer makes their living in a slightly different manner bringing their own unique presence to the Knitting world.

Laura has provided a short bio as well. "I was born and raised in Klaipeda, Lithuania. Moved to the US together with my family when I was 18 years old. My parents and two younger brothers settled in Philadelphia and I decided to move to New York City for college. I received my BFA in Fashion Design from Parsons School of Design in 2007 and have been working in sweater design in fashion industry since then. Luxe Knits was a project I got involved into my last semester at Parsons and it finally came to life last August. This upcoming Fall everyone should expect a nice surprise- Luxe Knits: The Accessories- a book that will continue the aesthetics of the Luxe Knits in every sense of it."

Where do you find inspiration?

I take inspiration from the beautiful things I see around me… It could be something like crack on the sidewalk or a modern piece of furniture. Today I was passing a street full of blooming trees and the petals were falling down like snow… It was very inspirational.

What is your favorite knitting technique?

I do not have one favorite technique… It depends on the season. Usually I like to take a technique and turn it into something special and unique of my own. You can find quite a few examples of that in my book Luxe Knits. After one technique is exhausted to the point where nothing new can be done- I move on to the next one…

How did you determine your size range?

The design itself usually determines it for me. There have been cases where I could only have the Small and the Large. But most of the time I try to cover a variety of sizes if it is possible.

Do you look at other designers' work or are you afraid that you will be influenced by their designs?

Working in Fashion Industry- looking at other designers’ work is by now a part of my daily routine. It is a part of the research we do. To know is to have the power. And to know what other designers are doing gives you the perspective where the trends are headed. There are very few things to be left invented in fashion- what makes a designer unique is his own personal vision.

How do you feel about the so called controversy of "dumbing down" patterns for knitters?

To me it is one of the most exciting things when writing a pattern. I call it “designing the pattern”. When you can strip the pattern of all the unnecessary things and leave just the bare bones so that it is just enough for everyone else to understand how to make the sweater…I feel accomplished…

How many sample/test knitters do you have working for you or do you do it all yourself?

I do most of the knitting myself. There were a few projects in Luxe Knits and the new upcoming book Luxe Knits: The Accessories where I had to get some help because of the deadlines. I keep it all in the family though- and my mother, who is an excellent knitter, has completed a few of my designs for both books.

Did you do a formal business plan?

No

Do you have a mentor?

No

Do you have a business model that you have emulated?

No

What impact has the Internet had on your business?

TheInternet has a huge impact on my everyday life as well as my work. Starting with the basic communication- which is mostly done through email…and ending with research and letting people know about you and your work. Internet is a powerful tool.

Do you use a Tech Editor?

No

How do you maintain your life/work balance?

I live an extremely active lifestyle. I do cycling, running (recently completed my first Half Marathon), skiing, swimming… That helps me to relax my mind so that when I get back to work- I am really focused and dedicated.

How do you deal with criticism?

I welcome criticism! I believe that the only way you can improve what you are doing is by taking the criticism from others.

How long did it take for you to be able to support yourself?

I think when I was still at school- I was able to pay off my full tuition for the last two years of college…so I have been doing moderately well since then…

What advice would you give someone who wants to pursue a career in knitting?

It is not just a career. It is a lifestyle. You have to love it so much that you would crave knitting…If that sounds like you- then go for it!

About Me

email contact robinknits(AT)gmail(dot)com
I've been knitting my whole life. I don't even remember learning. I started making garments for myself in my teens and then explored sewing, tailoring and millinery. I want to teach knitters about fit and flattery and turn them into fashion stars!
On my blog you will find lots of interviews with knitting industry professionals, how to tutorials and a variety of posts about what's going on in the knitting world.
I love to come out and speak at shops and guilds. Here's what the Downtown Knit collective said after one of my talks:
“Robin Hunter’s inspiring talk, “The Barbie Factor,” left everyone in a feel-good mood at the conclusion of the May meeting. Heads were nodding in agreement all around ... as she tackled a multi-faced problem faced by many knitters—why don’t we knit for ourselves? She touched on many topics including fashion, body image, media and how it all relates back to our knitting.”
You can see my patterns on http://www.patternfish.com/des/robin_hunter and you can find me on Ravelry at http://www.ravelry.com/people/knittingrobin
My YouTube channel is here:http://www.youtube.com/user/robinknits?feature=mhee